During the fall semester, Karrina Furtado, senior Public Health major and Kathwari Honors student, studied abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece. Furtado chose this program because it offered a variety of courses in the Humanities and Psychology, her minor, as well as options to fulfill prerequisites for graduate study in Occupational Therapy. The program also gave Furtado the opportunity to experience Greek culture, form lasting friendships, and enjoy the seaside scenery, including “the most beautiful sunsets [she has] ever seen.”

In addition to Psychology, Furtado studied Marketing and Mythology. For her marketing course, Furtado engaged in experiential learning at a local hotel, learning directly from the hotel managers, and building confidence with intercultural communication. Furtado also had the chance to visit sites from myths she studied, including Aphrodite’s Rock in Cyprus, and Mount Olympus, which she hiked.

Furtado appreciated the relaxed and welcoming nature of Greek culture. “It was not difficult to approach people or have conversations with them,” she says. She enjoyed Thessaloniki. “The boardwalk was always full of life, with people singing, dancing, talking, fishing, and just enjoying their time outside.” The city’s central location allowed her to travel to other Greek cities, such as Athens to see the Acropolis and the Parthenon, and nearby countries. In Rome, she had the chance to walk through the Porta Sancta of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Overall, Furtado most values the connections she made. “I will never forget the people I met during my time in Greece and while traveling. Many of us exchanged contact information, and we still keep in touch,” she says. Furtado is also grateful that the travel funding she received allowed her to completely focus on learning about the culture around her, soaking up everything it had to offer.

As she plans to attend graduate school and become an Occupational Therapist, Furtado knows her experiences will benefit her future career. “I visited places where not everyone spoke the same language as me, which challenged me to communicate in different ways and become more patient and adaptable. This helped me feel more comfortable interacting with people who have different cultures, languages, and perspectives,” she says. “It also helped me learn how to adapt to new environments, which is an important skill in occupational therapy when working with people from diverse backgrounds.”